Cracker Barrel ‘Butter Crackers’ Made With Vegetable Oils, Alleges Class Action Lawsuit

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An Illinois consumer says that the “butter crackers” in Cracker Barrel Bites are misleadingly marketed and contain no butter, but synthetic substitutes made from vegetable oils in a class action lawsuit filed in Illinois federal court this week. 

Lead plaintiff, Emma Shelton wants to represent other consumers who purchased Extra Sharp Yellow and Extra Sharp White (Cheese) Bites with Butter Crackers under the Cracker Barrel brand. She says that the company that owns the Cracker Barrell brand, Kraft Heinz, gives consumers “the false impression it contains a non-de minimis amount of butter, made from milk, cream or both.” 

Shelton says that she purchased Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow and Extra Sharp White (Cheese) Bites with Butter Crackers for $2.39 each on several occasions. She claims that she paid a premium for the product because she believed the crackers were made with real butter.  

Instead, the Cracker Barrel butter crackers are made with palm and canola oils, says Shelton.  

Consumers prefer the use of butter, rather than synthetic substitutes, in food products, contends the class action lawsuit. Butter, unlike vegetable oils, does not contain trans fats, is rich in nutrients, and has a creamy, sweet taste.  

Additionally, vegetable oils are made into margarine through a synthetic process, including “hydrogenation and interesterification, in the presence of chemical catalysts such as nickel and cadmium,” points out the lawsuit, while butter is made by churning milk.  

Butter, for all of its benefits and better taste, is also more expensive than vegetable oil, alleges the plaintiff, which is why Kraft Heinz uses the synthetic substitutes.  

Kraft Heinz “did not have to name the Product ‘Butter Crackers,’ but chose to, since this is more enticing to consumers,” states the Cracker Barrel class action lawsuit.  

“While [Kraft Heinz] sells various types of foods, it is most well-known for selling foods which contain dairy ingredients,” states the lawsuit. “Defendant licenses the name of the popular Cracker Barrel restaurant chain, known for its authentic and traditional southern food, of which butter is a key component.” 

The plaintiff wants to represent other Illinois residents who she says were duped into purchasing Cracker Barrel Bites with the so-called butter crackers. Shelton accuses Kraft Heinz of violating state consumer protection law, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and unjust enrichment.  

The class action lawsuit wants Kraft Heinz to pay damages to Class Members and also stop the alleged false advertising Cracker Barrel Bites butter crackers.  

Have you purchased Cracker Barrel Bites with butter crackers? Are you surprised to learn that they may have been made with vegetable oil? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below! 

The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, PC.  

The Cracker Barrel Bites Butter Cracker Class Action Lawsuit is Shelton v. Kraft Heinz Foods Company, Case No. 3:21-cv-00799 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. 

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